Red Orange Chair

I pass by this chair every morning at work.  It used to be gray like the bland color of the outside walls of the hospital.  It recently got repainted but the odd new color made me think.  What went in the decision process?  For sure it was not a ramdom choice.   This chair had been a silent witness to loss, desperation and forced acceptance.  

I am liking the decision makers on the color of this chair.  High five to all of you!

Envy

I do not like myself when I feel envious.  I ask a lot of whys and the more whys I ask, the angrier I become.

"My parents deserve a good life too and I have been good.  Don't I deserve a better deal?"  Why this?  Why that?  I am over 50 and the climax of my life has certainly passed.  But here I am still wishing I could buy them a property where they can breath fresh air and grow a vegetable garden.  Every time I turn on the faucet and wash with warm water, I think of how my dad would have loved to experience having this convenience. 

I was driving this morning and was trying to arrange the doughnut box in the passenger seat.  I must have taken away my eyes too long from the road because my tires hit the center aisle so hard.  I was so shaken up - like hit by lightning!  It made me realize that someone is sending me a message.  "Knock it off!"  Dad and mom are healthier than most in their ages and THAT is a blessing!

I am not one to compare myself to others.  But when I think of how much my parents need me and how much I can only provide ...  "Envy" does not wait too long to rear its ugly head and I need to clip it clean. 

NOW someone give me a butcher's knife!! 

Yes I Can ..

I didn't think I could pull it off!  But the foot massage helped.

What Happens ..

.. when after weeks of trying, you finally bought THE dress that you are wearing at your friend's wedding?  Well,  you go out the next week looking for shoes to match the dress and instead find SEVERAL dresses that you like more than what you bought!  Like 10 times more!  Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

Now I am looking at my dress and thinking - "Help me remember why I bought this??  Why??"

Td, Tdap 2 Days After

Feeling weak and feverish and out of sorts.  I slightly moved from my couch potato posture and felt an aching jolt in my left arm.  That was the vaccination I got yesterday.  Then I thought of reading the "What you need to know" flyer on the vaccine. 

"What are the risks from Tdap and Td vaccines?" 

Pain - yes

Redness - can't really see because of my skin color but ...

Mild fever - I think

Headache- yes!

Tiredness - I did cook dinner but taste of my egg roll left much to be desired (blame it on my vaccine)

I am one of the 3 in 10 adults getting these reactions.  So pedestrian.

I hope this goes away.  Soon. 

Crackericious!

It is always dangerous for me to sit home alone.  I make too many trips to the fridge or the pantry and though I walk away empty handed after I talk myself out of it, within the next hour  I find myself back at it.  I saw a small packet of goldfish crackers in the pantry so to satiate my "need" and stop myself from this oh-yes-you-do and oh-no-you-don't tug of war, I grabbed it. How harmless can goldfish crackers be?  Well, not so!!   After 3 bites, my mouth was burning.  I looked at the packet and it said - Hot 'n Spicy Cheddar.   Wha???  Now I need to wash this off with strawberry ice cream.  NOT. COOL >%#!!

Spelling (Dang!) Manor

The recently sold property (for a bargain they said at $85M from its $150M asking price!) has a bowling alley, a beauty salon and an 18th-century-style garden.  Why build a house like a hotel?  I guess you think that way when you have lots of money to work with.   Thanks to the masses like me who loved watching Charlie's Angels and Love Boat.  Never got on Dynasty and Beverly Hills 90210.   I am still in awe at how much showbiz personalities make.

I bet the only room that was always occupied was the beauty salon (yes! This house has one!) - if someone was home, that is.

This is green-with-envy me, reporting.  Back to you.

(NOTE: Thanks to Atwater Village Newbie for the photo) 

One Day

Location: Dressing room at the Women's Center
Time: 3pm

Left boob: How are you feeling?
Right boob: Sore!
LB: Well at least now you know you are alright.
RB: Yes ...  What a scary week huh?
LB: Yes it was...  Wish I could hug you.
RB: Whoa!!!   Not in 10 years please!

I knew I went downstairs to do something

An hour after I had lunch, I was by myself in the middle of our house in the first floor.  I knew I came down to do something.  While trying to remember what it was, I went to the bathroom.  In the bathroom I thought "When was the last time I cleaned my floors?"  So I went ahead and cleaned the floors.  Then I came by the sink and saw unwashed dishes.  Hmmm .... after cleaning the floors, I washed the dishes.  I opened the refrigerator and "surveyed" what I can eat.  Strawberries!  I took that and Nutella (yes! they are good together!), then went upstairs, turned on the TV and put my feet up.  As I was eating, I gleefully remembered why I went down earlier - to see if the comforter in the dryer is already dry!!  How silly for me to forget!  When I finished the strawberries, I was thirsty so went downstairs to quench my thirst.  At the corner of my eye, I saw several pairs of shoes and sandals by the front door.  I arranged them neatly and took the boots and some shoes with me upstairs to store for the next season.  Then I continued watching HGTV. 

"There was a reason why I came down. What was it now?"  

The comforter was folded and stored away after dinner when hubby needed to use the dryer.

My weekend in a nutshell.

I got me a coffee grinder!

I made my first pot of brewed coffee with freshly ground coffee.  I was underwhelmed :(  I guess I need to experiment on how finely I should grind the beans next time.

Coffee Beans

Someone gifted us with a big bag of Starbucks whole coffee beans.  Now I am wondering if it is worth it to buy a coffee grinder.  Mmmm ...

Wedding in August

I am attending the wedding of a dear friend.  I started fitting dresses the past weekend and I have never been so intimidated in selecting the right dress.  I will be doing one of the readings so I want to look good- er.  I mean, I want to look good, of course.  But this time, I want to look better!  My wish list is looong largely because of the many parts of my body I want to cover.  My arms, my elbows, my knees,  .. all these in the height of summer.  In Texas! 

Friends and Friendship

I never thought I would feel so affected when Ebb left.  This must be because I was reminded once again of how our friendship meant to me.  She took care of me and I also did the same to her.  I think I never felt I cared so much for a friend as much as I did for her.  She and I shared many many secrets.  She left this morning after a brief visit.  Our eyes met, we sadly smiled and willfully turned away, each one afraid to hear the other say goodbye again. 

My Pantry

It is true that time flies when you are busy doing something other than watching time.  Has it just been seven months ago that I started working again after languishing for more than a year of unemployment?  I already lost the unemployment-induced weight gain and I am loving it!  I guess I am loving it so much that I have been taking too many trips to fitting rooms of various stores :)   I remember the first time I fitted the size I usually get and found out they were big for me.  Got another one of the same size and still big.  Ever so slowly I broke out a smile ... Did I really lose weight?  Wait! ... Without even trying?  Gleeeeeeee!!!!

So I started thinking what I did differently in the past couple of months so I can consciously bring my weight down or at least keep my current weight.  Then it dawned on me.  My visits to my pantry has dramatically dropped!  My "healthy" snacks are hanging out longer in my pantry than they used to.  Now if I can only make it stay that way.  Hmmmm ...

Balikbayan Box

I cannot remember when I got my balikbayan box.  I started to fill it up early December with a trip to Costco and a few hundred dollars (heaven help me!) .  I ended up buying more than it can accommodate and I had to take out some stuff.  The box is full and ready to be mailed.  The problem is, I remember Papa's or Mama's favorites and I buy them to add to the already full box!  So I take out more stuff to accommodate the new things I bought.

It is still sitting on my foyer.  I need to close it and tape it up.  Somehow, having it still open gives me the option to change up.  Add and subtract.  

Much like life.  It is easier to move on with less options. Eliminate options, focus, build a time line and GO!  Please, Rebecca, your wallet will be happy :)

1.1.11

This year I will push myself to be the best that I can be.  As a mother, wife, daughter, employee.  I will do everything with a purpose. Everything. It will be an exciting year because I will make it so.